Levr matthews



NITED STATES PATENT OFFICE. I

LEVI MATTHEWS, OF ANTRIM, OHIO, ASSIGNOR TO HIMSELF AND J. K. ANDREWS, OF

SAMEPLACE, i

ROTARY STEAM-ENGINE.

Specification of Letters Patent No. 19,967, dated April 13, 1858.

To all whom it may concer/nf Be it known that I, LEVI MATTHEWS, of Antrim, in the county of Guernsey and State of Ohio, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Rotary Engines to be Propelled by Steam or other Gas or Fluid, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawing, which forms part of this specification, and in which-H Figure 1 represents a sectional plan, mainly through the line m m in Fig. 2, the cylinder and valve boX covers being removed; and Fig. 2 represents a vertical section, mainly through the line .e .a in Fig. l.

My improvement has reference to that class of rotary engines in which, the steam is confined in a close and rigid chamber and acts on a solid and inflexible surface, and makes its escape by confined passages, so that its full effect may be obtained in useful work. In engines of this character, either the revolving piston is made to have a radial action when passing the abutment in the cylinder, or the abutment is made to move out of the way for the passage of the piston in its circular travel. I here adopt the latter mode of operation and effect the occasional movement of the abutment by a revolving stud acting on a lever connected with the abutment, as usual for such purpose; but the mechanism for operating the abutment may be variously modified, and be-duplicated or adapted to work the abutment in reverse directions of the pistons travel, which provision it has not been held necessary to show in the arrangement represented in the accompanying drawing, to avoid complexity in the explanation of my improvement, for which reason also I have shown but one piston and sliding abutment operating in the same cylinder, but it will be obvious that two or more, if desired, may be used, also that the position of the engine generally may be changed so as to produce a direct horizontal revolving motion instead of a vertical one asshown in the accompanying drawing, whereinl the part marked A represents the cylinder made with a circular groove or channel (a) in which the piston (B) works and which is intersected by a sliding abutment (C). The piston (B) is connected with a ring (D) suitably packed to prevent leakage and forming an intermediate connection between the piston (B) andmain shaft to rotate the latter. On the main shaft (E) is a fly wheel (F) from which projects a stud (b) that in its circular travel (as indicated by the arrow g/ in Fig. l) strikes and acts on the back arm (c) of a beam whose fulcrum pin wo-rks with it. The frontend of this beam is connected .by rod (e) with the abutment (C), and the general arrangement is such that on the stud (b) striking in an easy manner and gradually closing the back arm (c) of the beam, the abutment (C) is slid outward to admit of the piston (B) passing it, the stud (b) being so pitched relatively to the .piston as to act thus upon the abutment as the piston approaches and while passing it. A spring (f), acting on an arm (g) attached to the fulcrum pin of the beam, serves to close the abutment after the stud (b) has passed the back arm of the beam, or the stud may be made to close the abutment by acting on a suitably formed extension of the back arm (c) of the beam, but the spring accomplishes the result in a more rapid and easy manner without violent jar. The steam is admitted to act upon the piston (B) through an aperture (h) in the cylinder on one side of the abutment, and escapes after having performed its duty, through an aperture (i) on the other side of the abutment, the. one aperture (71,) forming a communication with an inlet pipe (lo), valve ,box (J) and steam pipe and the other aperture communicating with an escape pipe The annular cylinder (A) I make of circular form in its transverse section, and use a round piston (B) to match, which form of piston may be more readily packed .than one of rectangular shape and dispenses with all angles or corners that are liable to cut,7 bind and produce leakage. The cylinder' (A) thus shaped, is made say in two equal parts to admit of the introduction of the piston, the one part forming a lid or cover and the two parts bolted together after the pist0n is inserted.

I connect the piston (B), with the ring (D) that conveys the motion to the main shaft, by hinging it (or rod extension of said piston) to a piece (fr) which forms a projection from the ring into the annular steam space of the cylinder. This mode of connection gives a free and easy action to the piston in its travel that greatly assists the accommodating action of the packing, prevents imperfection in the construction of the cylinder or unequal wear of the revolving parts from producing much serious drag or occasional binding, and is in many respects more advantageous than a rigid connection, while its solidity as a driver is not impaired. The roundshape of the piston and doubly round coniguration of the steam channel in which it works make this hinged connection more advantageous and easy of operation than it otherwise would be.

To reduce or prevent loss of steam when the piston (B) is passing the inlet and outlet apertures (71. z') and the abutment (C) is open or While it is being opened and closed, I cause the same motion that operates the abutment, by means of a valve (s), valve rod arm (t), rod (u) and arm (o) connected with the fulcrum pin of the beam (G), to shut off the supply of steam as t-he piston approaches the abutment and passes it and j the inlet and outlet apertures on either side of it, and to let on the supply again after the piston has thus passed and the abutment is completing its closing action. This valve may be of varied construction and arrangement. It is here shown as situated in a separate valve box or steam chest (J) to which steam is admitted by a pipe through an orifice (W2/.1) and the valve vopening and closing, at the periods just mentioned, over an oriiice (fm/.2) that communicates with the inlet pipe (k); and the rod (u) that operates said valve is hooked on to the valve rod arm (t) so that it may be disconnected therefrom at pleasure to admit of the same valve being used by hand to start and stop the engine. But of course an additional starting and stopping valve may be used if preferred, and the valve, whose main object here has before been adverted to, may be a slide or throttle form of valve situated in the inlet pipe and either capable of disconnection or not for operation by the hand.

It has before been specified, that the round shape of the piston and doubly circular configuration of the steam channel, in which the piston works (not a new construction in itself), makes the hinged connection of the piston more advantageous and easy of operation than it otherwise would be. But this is not all. The hinged connection of the piston (B) with the driving ring (D) is, it will be perceived, central in relation to the piston, by means of a rod or link that projects from the pistons center hitching on to, in a loose or free manner, the piece (r) which is a rigid attachment to the ring (D) and projects within the annular steam space of the cylinder. In this way, the steam, in its action on the pistons face, presses equally on either side of, or all around, the pistons central attachment to the rigid piece (r) which carries it, and the self accommodating action of the piston is in no wise restrainedby pressure of the steam on one side only of the hinged attachment; tilting or twisting and binding of the piston is prevented; the greatest freedom of action generally secured, in the simplest possible manner; and all outside jointed connection, with the piston inside, done away with. This feature, though apparently small, is of considerable practical ,importance in the action of the engine.

While not claiming as new, or broadly, a hinged connection ofthe piston with the revolving or driving ring, by jointed attachment or attachments;

I do claim, as both new and useful,

Hinging the circular piston (B) at its center to the outside driving ring (D), by means of a rigid arm or piece (r) projecting from said ring into the annular steam channel of the cylinder, as and for the purposes set forth.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my name.

LEVI MATTHEWS.

Vitnesses ALEX SANKEY, GEO. LYfrLE. 

